Eating for a cause

(L-R) Volunteer servers Don McBrayer, Dale Dupree, Shirley LaReau-Kemp and Michael Sullivan worked hard to serve their spaghetti dinners last January. The St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus annual spaghetti dinner happens three times each year to raise money for local charities and council programs.

PERU — One local group hopes empty stomachs will translate to big hearts.

St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council will host a spaghetti dinner Saturday, Jan. 16.

The all-you-can eat dinner features the usual standard fare.

“It’s good food at a good price for a good cause,” said Bill Allan, grand knight of the St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council.

Allan said the proceeds will be given to St. Augustine’s and, from there, will be distributed to a number of local charities and council programs.

The group hopes to raise $1,000 at the event, along with another $2,000 for two future dinners on Feb. 18 and April 15.

Throughout the year, the council also hosts weekly bingo sessions, an annual golf tournament and various donations and fundraisers, including the Coats for Kids Program that provides 24 jackets for fourth to sixth grade boys and girls in Peru Elementary school.

The council recently donated coats a few months ago that cost close to $500. Coats for Kids Chairman John Ryan said they hope to do the same, if not more, next year.

Ryan said the council is very appreciative of the help from the local community.

“We’re a very active council and we like helping people,” Ryan said. “But none of our work could be done without the support of the public and the local business community.”

The spaghetti dinner will take place Saturday, Jan. 16 at the St. Augustine’s Parish Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The dinner costs $7.50 per person, $2.50 for children 6 to 12, free for children 5 and under and $20 per family (parents and children). Take-outs are available. For more information, call 518-643-3286.